Australia recognises the State of Palestine
On 11 August 2025, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that "Australia will recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September". They said the decision was "predicated on the commitments we have received from the Palestinian Authority".
On 21 September 2025, a joint statement said: "Effective today, Sunday the 21st of September 2025, the Commonwealth of Australia formally recognises the independent and sovereign State of Palestine." The statement said this was done "alongside Canada and the United Kingdom". It also said: "The terrorist organisation Hamas must have no role in Palestine." It added that further steps, including diplomatic relations and embassies, "will be considered as the Palestinian Authority makes progress on its commitments to reform." At a press conference at UN headquarters, Senator Wong said government documents and systems would now refer to "the State of Palestine, or Palestine, rather than the OPTs".
At home, the Coalition objected. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and foreign affairs spokesperson Michaelia Cash said in a joint statement: "Recognition must come at the end of a peace process, not during the conflict." ABC reported that Australia's position put it at odds with the United States, and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the countries recognising Palestine.
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